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Wilfred, born in Bromley, was the youngest of John and Alice King's three sons. The family lived for some time in Sidcup so he was educated at Sidcup House School before going to St Dunstan's in January 1912. He left in July 1914 and became a clerk in Martin's Bank in Dartford. His mother died in 1915 and this is probably when the family moved back to Bromley, living with Alice's widowed sister Ada Bacon.

Aged 16 he joined the Volunteer Training Corps. When a band was formed he became a drummer and helped train many of the lads. He was a member of the Bromley Town Miniature Rifle Club and an excellent shot.

Wilfred was too young to take part in the early stages of the War, but in 1917 underwent officer training and was commissioned onto the General List for service with the Royal Flying Corps on I9 July 1917. He then commenced training as a pilot, and it was during this that he was killed in a flying accident, on Hounslow Heath, on 4 November 1917. In a flat turn, at 300 feet, his plane side slipped, nose-dived and burst into flames when it hit the ground. The pilot was also killed.